Paul Gallen's pummelling of Nate Myles in the first Origin match has been branded a "bit of a dog act" by Maroons great Steve Renouf, who said his behaviour sets an atrocious example for youngsters who aim to emulate their heroes in weekend matches.

Renowned former NRL referee Bill Harrigan has also lambasted the NSW skipper for landing what he called two "unprovoked" blows on Myles in the dying moments of the first half, saying the referee immediately should have sin-binned Gallen for such a savage attack.

But others have applauded Gallen for letting fly with his fists in what has become one of the most controversial moments in recent State of Origin history.

"You see that on the weekend. You see certain kids and certain young teams doing that [acting violently on the field] and the funny thing is, it shows how society's changing, some parents are encouraging it.

"I just think really the ref didn't have any reaction to it or any discipline on the spot, really.

"Someone throws a punch, someone throws a punch back, there's nothing untoward, no one gets hurt. We like to see that. That part's the softening-up period," he said.

But he said Gallen's punches on Myles, who did not fight back, crossed a line. The referees should immediately have sin-binned him, Harrigan said.

"When the referee called him back again I thought 'Hello, here he is, he's going to have the intestinal fortitude to sin bin this bloke in a big game, this is terrific, strong refereeing'," Harrigan said.

"And then he turned around and said 'We're not going to tolerate that'. Well poo hoo.

"Nate Myles didn't have his hands up ready to fight or anything. Nate Myles was standing there looking at him, and he just unloaded with those two shots. You just can't do that."